Thanks for enrolling in executive coaching. This will jump-start you to a higher level of effectiveness. Here’s what we’ll be working on in the next four weeks.

First, you have to know and control your time. Your assignment is to install and use the app Toggl. Keep it running at all times. No matter what you are doing, have Toggl recording what it is. It will be embarrassing and eye-opening.

Make sure Toggl is connected to your email profile, so you can run it on your phone, laptop, tablet, and multiple other devices. They all synchronize to each other and to the central repository of time records.

Do you have another tool you’d rather use? Do NOT allow yourself to dither around which tool is better. Use Toggl until that other tool is installed and running.

Second, have a weekly check-in on your big picture. The following list, inspired by John Bernard’s “Business at the Speed of Now” is a good touchstone for that overview:

Develop Products

Build / Produce / Ship Products

Market Products

Sell Products

Service Products

Ensure Compliance

Manage Strategic Alliances

Use (Track) Information

Manage Money, Budgets, Capital

Manage Strategy and Performance

Manage Risk

Build Team – Recruit, Train, Grow

Items 1-7 are Operational and 8-12 are Supportive.

Have an accountability partner with whom you review this list. I am happy to do that, however it could be anybody. Longer-term, it should be someone from your board, or the chairman.

For each of these 12 processes areas, have a medium term milestone, and a “next step.” In any given week, you should either be working on one of those next steps, or have one delegated, or you should be deliberately aware that you are not going to work on it this week.

Here’s an example of how you might structure your Big Picture list:

Operational Process Areas

Next Milestone

Next Step

Step Owner

By When

1. Develop Service Offerings

Turnkey UCA Template “Beta”

GG Cash Flow Tool Delivered

Bill

7/8

2. Initiate Delivery of Service Offerings

Written IDSO plan

IDSO outline

Tom

7/8

3. Market Service Offerings

Coherent Marketing Plan

Video #2 Posted

Tom

7/11

4. Sell Service Offerings

Sell Beta Product

5 Info Interviews

Tom (w/ Lori)

7/15

Third, you should also be tracking which next steps are delegated to someone else, who it is (“Step Owner”), when it is due, and when you are checking in. You absolutely must stay on top of your delegated tasks. Just as in relationships, the key to delegation is following up early and often.